Fuse replacer



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FUSE REPLACER INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY Jam E4, g, H AVJONES 3,743,895

FUSE REPLCER Filed March ll, 1927 3 Sheets-Shea?. 2

WITNESS: ATTORNEY INVENTOR Jan. 14, 1930. H. A. JQNES 3343,89@

FUSE REPLAGER Filed March ll,7 1927 3 Sheets-Shee 5 wlTNx-:ss: ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 14, 1930 PATENT OFFICE HENRY A. JONES, OF LEBOURN, MISSOURI rusia REPLACER Application filed March 11, 1927. Serial No. 174,581.

vision of novel means for retaining a number of fuses in normally inactive positions and for singly moving these fuses into act-ive posltlon when a fuse is blown.

Another object of the invention is to provide an interval of time between the blowing of an active fuse and the positioning of an inactive fuse to replace the blown fuse, s0

that the overload of current will not pass into and damage the second fuse.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to

be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a. plan view of the invention.

tion taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4- 1 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5 a of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the position of the fuse holder when inserting a. fuse.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 show- `ing a fresh fuse in position.

Figure 8 is a section 0n the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section illustrating the manner of releasing one of the inactive fuses.

Figure 10 is al section on the line 10-10 of Figure 1. 5 Referring to the drawings in detail where- Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentarysec-V in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, t-he reference character 11 indicates a base which may form a part of a housing for enclosing the invention, the remainder of the housing however not being illust-rated. Rising from the base-are spaced panels 12 and 13 while mounted upon the upper edge of the panel 12 is a fuse clip 14. A similar clip 15 is mounted upon the upper edge of the panel 13 and these clips are de- 60 signed to receivea fuse 16. Fuses of differentI character maybe used, but the invention is especially adapted for extra high potential fuses connected between a source of high voltage current and a step down transformer. Aconductor 1T which is electrically connected with the fuse clip 11 may lead to the source of current, while a conductor 18 has electrical connection with the clip 15 and may lead to theY transformer. Connection between the conductor 18 and the clip 15 is provided by a conductor bar 19 having one end connected to the clip 15 and itsfopposite end connected to the adjacent end of a conductor bar 20 by means of'a relatively light fuse 21. The con- `75 ductor 20 is provided with a binding post 22 to which the conductor 18 is connected.

An additional panel 23 rises from the base 10 and hingedly secured to this last mentioned panel as shown at 21 is a plurality of spaced so fuse holders 25. Any number of these holders may be utilized. The opposite ends of the fuse holders 25 are removably positioned within seats 26 provided in the panel 13. The holders 25 are open at their-free ends 85 y andare adapted to s lidingly receive fuses 16 and to normally hold these fuses inactive. For this purpose there is hingedly secured to the panel 13 over each of the seats 26 as shown at 27, a closure plate 28. This plate not only 9o closes the opening provided by the seat 26, but also provides an abutment for the adjacent end of the fuse 16. Outward swinging movement of each of the plates 28 is prevented l by retaining plates 29. These plates are hingedly secured to the panel 13 as shown at 30 and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings. they are engaged over the free ends of the closure plates 28 to hold the latter against outward movement. Secured to and extending from one edge of each of the plates 28 is an arm 30 and this arm is adapted to be engaged by one of the fuses 21, there being one of the lat-terprovided for each plate 28 and each fuse 16.

It will be thus apparent that when the fuse 16 is overloaded, the fuse 21 adjacent the fuse 16 will be likewise overloaded so that this lastmentioned fuse as well as the fuse 16 will be blown. The first inactive fuse, that is, the fuse 16' adjacent the blown fuse 2l will be released by the release of the arm 30', so that the plate 29 may fall downward and release the closure plate 28 which holds the fuse 16 referred to. In order to remove the released fuse 16 to an active position to restore the interrupted circuit, each of the fuse holders 25 is provided with a slide block 31. This" slide block carries an eye 32 which entends through a slot provided in the under side of the fuse holder 25, while connected to this Veye is one end of a spring 33. The opposite end of this spring is connected to the panel 13 as shown at 34. The spring will thus act to slide the block outward along the fuse holder and force t-he released fuse outward so that its outer end will engage one of a number of spaced contact clips 35 carried by the panel 12. A. conductor 36 connects each o f these clips with t-he high tension conductor 1i When the first of the inactive fuses 16 1s actively positioned as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, current will pass through the high tension wire 17, the conductor 36 to t-he contact clip 35, through the fuse 16 to a spring contact 37 which is secured to a contact plate 38 carried by the panel 13. Through this contact, current passes through a conductor bar 39, through the next adjacent fuse 21 to a contact bar 40 and this bar is connected to a contact plate 41 which is similar to the plate 38 and which is connected to the contact bar 20 by a contact bar 42. The plate 41 has connected thereto a clip 37 which is similar to the clip 37 so as to provide electrical contact tov the next adjacent fuse 16 when the latter is moved to an active position. When the fuse just referred to is positioned to close the circuit after the first moved fuse has been blown, current will flow through the conductor 36 and through the last positioned fuse, the clip 37', the plate 41 and the con- 'liuctor bar 42 to the conductor wire 18.

In order to retard the outer movement of the fuse 16 after a fuse has been blown, each of the tplates 29 has connected thereto one end ofY a exible member 43. This member is wound upon a drum 44 which is mounted upon a shaft 45. This shaft has secured thereon a pinion 46 which is engaged by a gear 47, the latter being mounted upon a shaft 48. Secured upon this shaft is a brake wheel 49 which is engaged by a spring arm or shoe 50. As the action of the spring 33 forces the fuse 16 outward, this outward movement will be yieldingly resisted by the braking mechanism just described, so that an interval of time will elapse between theA blowing of one fuse and the positioning of a fresh fuse. The overload of current will thus be prevented from damaging the second fuse.

" The fuses 2l bridge the space between the conductor bars 19 and 20 and the conductor bars 39 and 40, so that current normally passes through these fuses until they are blown. Pivotally mounted spring actuated conductor arms 51 are arranged to bridge the space between these bars, so that when one of the fuses 21 is blown to release its arm 30 prior to the blowing of a main fuse, the arm 51 which has been held elevated by engagement with the arm 30', will spring into position to complete a circuit between the conductor bars. Thus, should the first overload not be sufficient to blow the main fuse, and a second or greater overload immediately follow, the main fuse will blow and the circuit will be completed through the substitute fuse after the latter has been properly positioned.

The invention is susceptible` of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. In a fuse replacer, an active fuse included in an electric circuit, fuse holders, inactive fuses in said holders, means to close the holders, fusible means to retain the holders in closed position, means to force the inactive fuses from the holders when the closing means is released'and means operative when the active fuse and fusible retaining means are blown to release the closing means of one of the holders and permit one of the inactive fuses to move to an active position.

2. In a fuse replacer, an active fuse included in an electric circuit, fuse holders, in-

active fuses in said holders, hinged closures for the holders to hold the fuses inactive, fusible means engaging the closures to hold the latter against opening. means operative when the active fuse and fusible holding means are blown to release the closure holdmg means of one of the fuse holders and means to force the inactive fuses from such holder to an active position.

3. In la'fuse replacer, an active fuse included in an electric circuit, fuse holders, inactive fuses insaidholders,hingedclosuresfor the holders to retain the fuses inactive, pivotl ally mounted closure holding members to retain the inactive fuses within the holders, fusible means operative when the active fuse blows to melt and permit the pivotally mounted closure holding means to release one of the closures and release a fuse, and

means to force the released fuse to an active position..

4. In a fuse replacer, an active fuse included in an electric circuit, fuse holders, inactive fuses insaidholders,hingedc1osures for the holders to retain the uses inactive, pivot-4 5 ally mounted closure holding members to retain the inactive fuses within the holders, fusible means operative when the active fuse blows to melt and permit the pivotally mounted closure holding means to release one of the closures and release a fuse, and a spring actuated member movable longitudinally within each fuse holder to engage the fuses and force the released fuse to an active position.

5. In a fuse replacer, an active fuse included in an electric circuit, fuse holders, inactive fuses insaidholders,hingedclosures for the holders to retain the fuses inactive, pivotally mounted closure holding members to retain the inactive fuses within the holders, fusible means operative when the active use blows to melt Aand permit the pivotally mounted closure holding means to release one of the closures and' release a fuse, means to force the released fuse to an active position and means associated with the closure holding means to retard the movement of the latter and provide an interval between the blowing of the active fuse and thenal positioning of v an inactive fuse.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HENRY A. JONES. 

